Law Firm Practice Program

UDM Law's innovative Law Firm Program courses bridge the gap between legal theory and practice. Students handle simulated legal transactions as though they were in a law firm or corporate legal department. The experience benefits an organization because graduates are able to contribute immediately to a variety of legal tasks and transactions. These courses are taught by veteran practitioners.

Clinic Experiences train students for legal work while providing a valuable service to the community. Our Urban Law Clinic, Immigration Clinic and Veteran's Law Clinic are among seven clinics that give students a chance to help others while gaining hands-on legal experience. Every UDM Law student is required to participate in at least one clinic prior to graduation.

Externships provide real-world experience in the legal field. Students carry their own case loads, conduct research, draft briefs and memoranda, interact with attorneys and prosecutors, and learn hands-on about the demands and rewards of the profession—all under the guidance of a seasoned attorney or judge.

Moot Court is designed to shape students into persuasive communicators and advocates. Every first-year student participates in a mandatory internal moot court competition with critiques by practicing attorneys and judges. Upper-level students compete for spots on national moot court competition teams.

Emphasis on Writing and Ethics is a vital part of the UDM Law educational model. Our acclaimed first-year legal writing program, Applied Legal Theory and Analysis, has garnered a number of national awards. With legal writing emphasized in every course, students continuously work on honing how to defend a line of argument and communicate solutions using concise and well-reasoned analysis and writing.

Ethics are at the core of a UDM Law education and the Jesuit and Mercy traditions of knowledge building and moral integrity. At UDM Law, ethics are embedded in the curriculum and discussed within the context of day-to-day coursework. Doing so helps students recognize subtle ethical issues that they won't want to miss as a practicing attorney. Students not only learn the technical rules of professional conduct, but are challenged to think about how to apply them in a complex world.

Exceptional Professors of Practice are full-time faculty who are seasoned attorneys with decades of experience. Former partners and leaders in some of the nation's top firms and corporations, they develop practical courses in their areas of expertise.